February 16, 2026
Hello neighbors,
Two important events happening in River Terrace this week:
- Benning Road Bridges and Transportation Improvements Project Open House on Tuesday at the River Terrace Education Campus starting at 6 PM. During this meeting, we'll be hearing about Phase 1 of construction which will take place along Benning Road NE between 34th Street NE and Minnesota Avenue NE.
- River Terrace Community Organization Meeting on Wednesday at the River Terrace Education Campus starting at 6:30 PM. During this meeting, we'll be discussing the RTCO budget.
Scroll down for more details about both events.
Also, the River Terrace Community Organization Finance Committee is looking for one more volunteer to join - in this position, you'll help shape RTCO's financial future by supporting thoughtful budgeting for events and grants as well as smart planning for long-term sustainability for the organization.
See you this week!
Katie
Trash and Recycling Collection and Holiday Slide Update:
In observation of the President’s Day Holiday on Monday, February 16, DPW will operate on a one-day slide schedule for collections of household trash, recycling, and food waste. For example, households that normally receive trash, recycling, and food waste collections on Tuesday, February 17, will be serviced on Wednesday, February 18.
Benning Road Bridges and Transportation Improvements Project Open House
The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) invites you to attend an open house about updates on DDOT’s Benning Road Bridges and Transportation Improvements Project (Benning Road Project).
WHAT: Benning Road Bridges and Transportation Improvements Project – Open House
WHEN: Tuesday, February 17, 2026 from 6:00 pm-8:00 pm (with a brief presentation at 6:15 pm)
WHERE: River Terrace Education Campus, 405 Anacostia Ave NE, Washington, DC 20019
TO PARTICIPATE: Come to River Terrace Education Campus anytime between 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 17, 2026 to learn more about the Benning Road project, including details on the latest updates to final design plans and next steps ahead of the anticipated start of construction in summer 2026.
The open house will start with a brief presentation by the project team at 6:15 p.m. Attendees will have an opportunity to learn more about how the project will improve safety, accessibility, and infrastructure along Benning Road NE and have their questions answered by the DDOT team.
This open house will focus on Phase 1 of construction, which will take place along Benning Road NE between 34th Street NE and Minnesota Avenue NE. Phase 1 of construction is anticipated to begin in summer 2026 and is comprised of:
- Replacing the functionally obsolete Willie J. Hardy Bridge over DC‐295 (Anacostia Freeway) and CSX freight rail tracks
- Improving safety and access through modifications of the Benning Road NE and DC‐295 interchange
- Enhancing and installing pedestrian and bicycle facilities
- Relocating utility infrastructure in coordination with Pepco, Washington Gas, Verizon, DC Water, and other utility companies (beginning in 2025)
Phase 2 of construction, which is not yet funded or scheduled, will include additional bridge and roadway rehabilitation and multimodal infrastructure improvements along Benning Road NE between 26th Street NE and East Capitol Street. Once fully implemented, the Benning Road project will improve safety conditions and traffic operations and address deficiencies in infrastructure in Ward 7 and Ward 5 and along the approximately two miles of Benning Road NE from Oklahoma Avenue NE to East Capitol Street.
For more information, please visit benningroadbridges.ddot.dc.gov or email Project Manager Dawit Kebede, PE at dawit.kebede@dc.gov.
River Terrace Community Organization Monthly Meeting
River Terrace Education Campus
Wednesday, February 18, 2026
6:30-8:30 PM
Virtual - password: 117735
Councilmember Felder's Ward 7 Budget Town Hall
Maya Angelou Public Charter School
5600 East Capital Street NE
February 25, 6-8 PM
Join us to share your FY27 budget priorities for Ward 7! We encourage all neighbors to attend, engage, and share what they want to see in the community.
If you haven't already, please also take our budget survey, so we can accurately capture what the wants and the needs of neighbors are.
Ward 7 Budget Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Ward72027
DC Public Service Commission (DCPSC) Resource Fair 2026
The DC Public Service Commission Resource Fair will serve as a centralized, welcoming location where DC residents can learn about available utility discount programs, receive energy efficiency guidance, and obtain customer service support related to their utility bills.
In addition to utility-focused resources, attendees will be able to engage with DC agencies and partner organizations offering a broad range of services, including financial assistance, housing support, employment resources, and other critical community services.
The goal of the fair is to create an inclusive and supportive environment that connects residents with the tools and information they need to achieve greater stability and well-being.
Fri, Feb 27th, 2026
3:00pm - 5:00pm EST
Dorothy I. Height/Benning Neighborhood Library 3935 Benning Rd, NE Washington, DC 20019 - Lower-level lobby area and Meeting Room 1
Healthy Homes Fair 2026
Join the DCSEU at the third edition of the Healthy Homes Fair — a free expo and learning experience for homeowners, renters, home renovation professionals, and career seekers to learn about the products, services, technologies and incentives available to improve our health, increase comfort, and reduce emissions from the homes of the DC region.
Expo
The expo features 100 exhibitors, an appliance “petting zoo,” a bouncy castle for the kids, food trucks, induction cooking demonstrations, toy house makerspace, and contractor finder demo equipping both renters and homeowners with the knowledge and tools they need to decarbonize our homes! Attendees can also participate in a scavenger hunt for a chance to win prizes, such as state-of-the-art induction cooktops, portable plug-in versions, an electric lawnmower and more!
Curious about e-bikes? Test ride an array of brands and models at our E-bikes Tasting Party, learn about e-bike incentives, and connect with local shops and organizations!
Academy
The Healthy Homes Academy, from 1pm to 5pm, is a free program of 16 25-minute sessions open to anyone curious about the science, technology and careers of the clean energy transition, including home renovation professionals looking to enhance their skills, embrace technology, and boost revenue with value-enhancing solutions. Academy program will be published soon.
Calendar of Events
Read Previous Newsletters